Act Now to Support H.B. 1330: The Ensuring Success in School Act

Illinois youths who are parents, expectant parents, or victims of sexual or domestic violence may see improvements on the state’s School Code that would support their efforts to stay in school and succeed academically. The Ensuring Success in School Act (House Bill 1330) was introduced in the Illinois General Assembly last week and is expected to come before the House Elementary and Secondary Education Committee on Wednesday, March 7. In order for this important legislation to advance, we encourage you to contact committee members to voice your support immediately before March 7.

Young parents face great difficulties in staying in school and obtaining a high school diploma. Students who are victims of domestic or sexual violence also face challenges that impede their academic success. The Ensuring Success in School Act promotes successful school completion among youths who are parents, expectant parents, or victims of domestic or sexual violence by

•  fostering their enrollment in school and school attendance;
• supporting their efforts to participate in school; and
• providing guidance to school districts when a student is a parent, expectant parent, or a victim of domestic or sexual violence.

Rep. Karen Yarbrough (D-7) is the lead sponsor of H.B. 1330. Other sponsors include Rep. Harry Osterman (D-14), Rep. Cynthia Soto (D-4), Rep. Kathleen Ryg (D-59), Rep. Rosemary Mulligan (R-65), Rep. David Miller (D-29), and Rep. Deborah Graham (D-78).

We strongly encourage you to contact the Elementary and Secondary Education Committee members (listed below) who are not already bill sponsors to express your support for H.B. 1330. The Springfield office is the best number to call, but you may call the district office if you prefer. If you can make only a few calls before March 7, please call the Republican members of the committee, particularly Rep. Richard W. Pritchard (R-70), who spearheaded the newly formed bipartisan Education Caucus. It is important to have bi-partisan support for the bill.

Your effort in contacting these legislators is crucial in advancing the educational rights of students who have historically faced discrimination based on their status as parents, expectant parents, or victims of domestic and sexual violence. Please ask your representatives to support H.B. 1330 and to become a cosponsor of the bill. Thank you.

For more information, please contact Wendy Pollack, director of the Women’s Law and Policy Project, Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law, at wendypollack@povertylaw.org or 312.263.3830 ext. 238.

Committee Member                                          Springfield Phone                             District Phone

Rep. Michael K. Smith (D-91) Rep. Monique D. Davis (D-27) Rep. Jerry L. Mitchell (R-90) Rep. Suzanne Bassi (R-54) Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia (D-83) Rep. Fred Crespo (D-44) Rep. Lisa M. Dugan (D-79) Rep. Roger L. Eddy (R-109) Robert F. Flider (D-101) Esther Golar (D-6) Kevin Joyce (D-35) Renee Kosel (R-81) *David E. Miller (D-29) *Rosemary Mulligan (R-65) Ruth Munson (R-43) *Harry Osterman (D-14) Brandon W. Phelps (D-118) Sandra M. Pihos (R-42) Robert W. Pritchard (R-70) David Reis (R-108) Jim Watson (R-97) *Karen A. Yarbrough (D-7)

(217) 782-8152 (217) 782-0010 (217) 782-0535 (217) 782-8026 (217) 558-1002 (217) 782-0347 (217) 782-5981 (217) 558-1040 (217) 782-8398 (217) 782-5971 (217) 782-8200 (217) 782-0424 (217) 782-8087 (217) 782-8007 (217) 782-8020 (217) 782-8088 (217) 782-5131 (217) 782-8037 (217) 782-0425 (217) 782-2087 (217) 782-1840 (217) 782-8120

(309) 647-7479 (773) 445-9700 (815) 625-0820 (847) 776-1880 (630) 264-6855 n/a (815) 939-1983 (618) 563-4128 (217) 428-2708 (773) 925-6580 (708) 448-3518 (708) 479-4200 (708) 201-8000 (847) 297-6533 (847) 622-1048 (773) 784-2002 (618) 253-4189 (630) 858-8855 (815) 748-3494 (618) 392-0108 (217) 243-6221 (708) 615-1747

*Bill sponsors.
Republican committee members in bold.